Have Saddle, Can Ride

Zen Horse and Human
Sep 19, 2025
4 min read

I used to believe a saddle was a passport. I thought, "If I have a saddle, I can ride". Growing up, I saved up and bought one - not because I had a horse of my own, but because I wanted to be ready for any horse that crossed my path. I saw that saddle as my ticket to freedom, to connection, to possibility. But the first horse I was paid to ride regularly bucked me off. Repeatedly. Everyone (including me) put it down to her "just being a brat", and spent a great deal of time showing her "who was boss" with the nasty end of a crop, and "teaching her to respect" me by doing various groundwork exercises. Not once did anyone suggest calling a saddle fitter. It wasn't something people "did". Even today, many people still think that they can use their personal saddle on any horse without having it fitted first. But what does the latest research say?

What the Research Reveals

Studies from Hartpury University and Woolcroft Equine Services show that improper saddle fit is not just common - it's a major welfare issue. In a 2024 study of 483 equestrian professionals, saddle fitters, therapists, and coaches reported frequent saddle-related problems, including muscular asymmetry, behavioural resistance, and rider imbalance.

A case study published by Just Horse Riders highlighted how an 8-year-old Fell Pony named Max transformed after a saddle adjustment. His reluctance and poor performance disappeared once his saddle was properly fitted.

Equine physiotherapist Siun Griffin outlines how poor saddle fit can lead to:

Pressure on the withers and spine
Restricted shoulder movement
Uneven weight distribution
Behavioural issues like bucking, bolting, or refusal

But here's the part that's often overlooked:

Even One Ride Can Do Damage

We tend to think saddle fit issues accumulate over time. But even a single ride in a poorly fitted saddle can cause:

Soft Tissue Trauma: Pressure points can bruise muscles, pinch nerves, and inflame fascia.
Sweat Gland Damage: Uneven pressure can crush sweat glands, leading to dry spots or white hair patches.
Spinal Ligament Strain & Vertebral Misalignment: Saddles that put weight around or press on the spine can stretch ligaments and shift vertebrae, especially around CN11 and the lumbar spine.
Cartilage Chipping: Even brief exposure to poor saddle fit can chip cartilage and cause subluxation - leading to chronic pain and postural changes.

And the emotional impact is just as real:

Moving Off Or Displays of Aggression During Tacking Up; Bucking, Bolting, or Refusal: Often pain responses, not disobedience.
Shutdown or Learned Helplessness: Horses whose attempts at communicating their discomfort have been ignored (or punished) freeze rather than fight, masking discomfort with emotional withdrawal.
Loss of Trust: One painful ride can fracture the horse's sense of safety and create lasting associations with discomfort.

What Saddle Fit Impacts

A well-fitted saddle isn't a luxury - it's a cornerstone of ethical horsemanship. It affects:

Physical Health: Prevents back pain, muscle strain, and long-term injury
Movement: Allows freedom through the shoulders and spine, enabling natural gaits
Behaviour: Reduces resistance, anxiety, and pain-related reactions
Performance: Enhances engagement, responsiveness, and willingness
Rider Balance: Supports correct posture and aids communication

Signs of Poor Saddle Fit

If you're wondering whether your saddle is causing harm, here are some red flags to watch for:

Behavioural Clues

Refusal to stand still for tacking up
Ear pinning, tail swishing, or biting during saddling
Hollowing the back or rushing under saddle
Reluctance to move forward or pick up certain gaits
Bucking, rearing, or bolting when saddled or mounted

Physical Indicators

Dry spots or uneven sweat marks after riding
White hairs or rub marks under the saddle area
Muscle atrophy or asymmetry along the topline
Swelling, heat, or sensitivity when grooming the back
Difficulty lifting the back or engaging the hindquarters

Rider Feedback

Feeling off-balance or tipped forward/backward
Saddle shifting to one side during the ride
Difficulty maintaining correct posture or aids
Uneven stirrup pressure or leg contact

These signs aren't always dramatic, but they're worth listening to. Horses speak through subtle shifts in movement, mood, and muscle tone. Saddle fit is one of the clearest ways we can show them we're listening, and that we really care. Looking back, I wonder how many horses were labeled "difficult" and punished when they were simply uncomfortable and trying to tell us so, in the only way they could.

When We Know Better, We Can Do Better

Saddle fitting isn't about indulgence. The science says it isn't a money-making scheme. It's a necessity. So, while I still carry that childhood longing to ride any horse that crosses my path, and I now own multiple saddles, because I know what I know now I'm not going to pop any of them onto any horse I come across (without having them fitted first). And I hope that you'll consider doing the same.

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Love and light,

Vicci

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